No, it isn't simple because certain files in the C: drive are constantly changing and some are not normally accessible, so you end up getting errors & the process doesn't complete. There are programs like Acronis and Norton Ghost that will give you images of your drive, which is what I'm guessing you are looking to achieve, there are also a number of freeware solutions, but I have not used any particular one so cannot comment on their suitability. Do a Google search for 'disk imaging software' to see what you can choose from.

"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us..." Pink Floyd

Thanks for all the info. The problem here is you are dealing with a 75 year old grey hair who is not "into" this stuff very deeply. I had (it turns out) a naive notion that by copying the ENTIRE C drive to the external hard drive I would be sure to get a copy of EVERYTHING which would include ALL the data type files I wouldn't want to lose in case of a failure to the installed hard drive.

I wasn't really aware that this would ALSO include all the system operating files and that seems to be the problem.

It seems that in order to do what I set out to do in the first place I'm going to have to "rummage around" and pick out the particular data files I want to save and copy them.... one at a time... to the external drive.... a much more laborious job.

You don't have to 'rummage around' too much. Most of what you want is in the 'Documents and Settings' folder under each username, so you just go there & select the relevant folders that you want to keep backed up. The only other bits are things like your desktop folder, which is still under 'documents and settings' and your emails which are, admittedly, a bit more hidden depending on what email program you use.

Also, if you use Windows backup, or any other backup utility then you just need to make the selection once and then set it to back up at a regular interval.

"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us..." Pink Floyd

Your suggestion worked great!!! I was able to copy 95% of what I wanted to save over to the external drive in 20 minutes or so.

Just to give you an idea of how antiquated some of it is..... There are hundreds of engineering algorithms (thermo, fluid flow, etc) I use quite often that I wrote years ago.... IN BASIC!!!. I've had them backed up on a whole bunch of 3-1/2" floppies until now.

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